US News issues 2012 national high school rankings

Love them or hate them, rankings continue to capture the public's attention. Florida ranks its schools according to FCAT scores. Other states are looking at following Florida's lead in rating schools based on test results.

In its newly released listing, US News and World Report uses state testing data as its first level for scoring schools. Then it refines further, using results for disadvantaged students and availability of programs such as AP and IB as additional criteria.

The top schools on the list all share one trait -- they're selective in student admissions, not just drawing from their surrounding neighborhoods. Just one Florida school makes the top 25 -- Miami-Dade's Design and Architecture Senior High, at No. 16.

The top rated schools in each of the Tampa Bay area's districts are:

Plant High in Hillsborough, No. 22 in Florida and No. 321 overall

Palm Harbor University High in Pinellas, No. 50 in Florida and No. 887 overall

Springstead High in Hernando, No. 81 in Florida and No. 1,759 overall

Gulf High in Pasco, No. 82 in Florida and No. 1,788 overall

There is always much argument over the value of these rankings. What do you think makes a high school great? Do these lists help?

About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.